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Friday, December 20, 2013

Vatican
City, 20 December 2013 (VIS) – This morning, the Pope received the
ceremonial diplomatic staff of the Italian Republic and the Italian
Embassy to the Holy See, to exchange Christmas greetings.

Francis
thanked them for the help, often not easily recognised, that they
offer to his ministry, recalling in particular the diplomatic
activity behind the ceremony that took place on 19 March 2013, when
the Holy Father began his Petrine ministry with a solemn Mass in St.
Peter's Square in the presence of heads of State from all over the
world.

“Through
your service, you are in a position to promote the culture of
encounter. You are diplomatic functionaries and all of your work is
orientated towards ensuring that the representatives of countries,
international organisations and institutions may encounter one
another fruitfully. How important this service is! The most
specifically ceremonial, most visible element is aimed towards that
which is not immediately apparent: to the growth of positive
relationships, based on mutual knowledge, respect, and the common
search for pathways to development and peace”.

The
Holy Father underlined that the Italian diplomats have “an extra
card to play: Italian cultural heritage. Italy has always been a
synonym, throughout the world, for culture, art and civilisation. You
contribute to ensuring that its value is recognised for the culture
of encounter, that this heritage is put to the service of the common
good, for that which Paul VI called the civilisation of love”.

“Christmas,
which is now close, is the celebration of the encounter between God
and man. We are given the gift of a Child in Whom this encounter is
fully achieved. The message of Christ's birth calls out even to those
who are not Christians. I hope that each one of you may live
intensely this mystery of love, and that it profoundly inspires your
service”.